El Emporio Does It Again, Lands the Clásico Ayacucho and Stamps His Authority Over the Marathon Trip

The son of Il Campione extended his streak to four consecutive victories, defeating Billion by 1 1/2 lengths

El Emporio Found His Ideal Stage on the Dirt at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The purple patch enjoyed by El Emporio reached dreamlike proportions on Saturday over the dirt at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, as he captured the Clásico Ayacucho (G3), a grueling 2500-meter test contested under punishing heat that pushed temperatures beyond 30°C.

The son of Il Campione has now firmly established himself as the leading reference among true stayers—those effective beyond 2000 meters—on Avenida del Libertador and Dorrego, where he has reeled off four consecutive black-type victories. Quite simply, it has been a formidable run.

It was never going to be straightforward, but the favorite solved the puzzle with authority, even in the face of a bold and nearly decisive tactical move from Endor Rye (Endorsement), a gambit that came close to paying off. In the end, it was not enough to subdue a horse that is rapidly becoming unbeatable.

Davalos (Hi Happy) broke to the lead but set only a modest tempo. Martín Valle, aboard Endor Rye, quickly read the situation, sent his mount to the front, and pressed on strongly midway through the final turn, attempting to take the rest of the field out of their comfort zones.

For a fleeting moment, the move appeared inspired. But the leader began to tire, and El Emporio found his stride, reeling him in, striking the front inside the final 150 meters, and then bracing himself against the powerful late surge of Billion(Galicado), who finished second, 1 1/2 lengths adrift, a further half-length clear of Endor Rye. The final time of 2:40.97 told little of the effort given the circumstances, after fractions of :27.71, :53.40, 1:18.33, 1:43.31 and 2:07.78.

Juan C. Villagra once again delivered a polished ride on the bay trained by Humberto Benesperi for the Juan Martín stable and bred by Haras El Paraíso.

Out of Diandra Parodi (Don Valiente), El Emporio notched the eighth victory of his 13-start career and the fourth at stakes level, adding to previous successes in the Irineo Leguisamo (L), Carlos Gardel (L) and Mineral (L).

Looking ahead, the Campeonato Palermo de Oro, set to begin in March, looms as a logical next objective. Run entirely over 2000 meters—a distance at which El Emporio has already excelled—it represents another stage on which his growing stature demands the utmost respect.